BIRTHS AND CHRISTENINGS

When a child is born its parents may wish to announce the birth in a national or local newspaper. The announcement may read as follows:

Smith. On February 12th, 1963, at St. Mary’s Hospi­tal, Paddington, to Mary, wife of James Smith, 15 Blank Terrace, S. W. 3, a daughter. (The name can be added in brackets.)

The birth must be registered at the local registrar’s office within six weeks in England and Wales and three weeks in Scotland. A child is usually christened in the first six months of its life.

At the christening there is one godmother and two god­fathers for a boy and vice versa for a girl (but no godparents are necessary at a Church of Scotland christening). The god-mother always holds the baby during the ceremony and gives it to the clergyman just before he baptizes it. She makes the responses during the ceremony and tells the clergyman the names when asked. The true role of godparents is to watch over the spiritual welfare of their godchildren until confir­mation, or at least to show interest in them throughout their childhood.

Usually, but by no means always, the friends and relatives give a christening present. Traditionally, the godparents give a silver cup, which is probably going to be far more use­ful if it is a beer mug! Other presents should preferably be something intended to last a lifetime, such as a leather-bound bible or poetry book, a silver spoon or a crystal and silver scent bottle.